These Vegan Matcha Mochi Donuts are packed with matcha flavors and made with minimal ingredients. The dough is soft and chewy on the inside just like a mochi!

I couldn’t stop smiling as my teacher handed me the Dunkin Donuts bag.

I was one of the rare children who really liked going to school. It was not just about learning new things, but I loved being able to see new friends and all my teachers. Even on snow days when my mom let us stay home, I would wake up early in the morning and head out to help shovel all the snow in our driveway so that my mom or dad could drive me to school.

A few times in the week, I would stay after school, not for extracurricular activities but actually to help my teacher clean her classroom or help her grade assignments she gave us. It would just be the two of us as my classmates empty out of our homeroom and the entire school fall into a peaceful silence.

While we get to work, she would ask me questions about my family and I and also tell me a bit about her family and kids and the love she has for them. She has a peaceful presence with her and always makes me feel welcomed and appreciated even though I didn’t do anything major.

One time she came into our classroom a few minutes later than usual. Before class started, she would gesture for me to come to see her at her desk. I walked over worried that I got in trouble, but instead, she handed me a Dunkin Donuts bag still warm with a donut inside for me, thanking me for my help.

I couldn’t stop smiling as I head back to my desk, grateful for the kind and supportive teacher I had. I would wait until I got home to eat it, wanting to show my mom, and also have the time to savor every bite of it.

It wasn’t just the donut I savored but also the memories surrounding it. I don’t have donuts as often as I did when I was younger, but when I have them like this time making these Vegan Matcha Mochi Donuts I think back to those childhood memories.

So what exactly are mochi donuts?
Mochi Donuts originated from Mister Donut (the largest donut chain in Japan) back in 1956 in Boston. Just like Dunkin Donuts became wildly popular across the United States, Mister Donut’s Pon de Ring (ポンデリング) donuts became instantly popular in the U.S. and spread throughout Japan. The name Pon de Rings is a spin from a Brazilian cheese bread known as “Pao de queijo”. They are referred to as mochi donuts because of their soft mochi-like texture.

Usually, mochi donuts are fried, but I made a baked vegan version instead.

Here is an overview of these Vegan Matcha Mochi Donuts.

Ingredients
Flour: I used regular all-purpose flour but you can also make them gluten-free with 1:1 gluten-free flour. I recommend using Bob’s Red Mill’s 1:1 Gluten-Free Baking Flour, the one in a blue bag. Mochiko flour (sweet rice flour) is also used and is a required ingredient to produce the soft and chewy texture of the donuts.

Sugar: To make these tarts refined sugar-free, substitute the sugar with coconut sugar. I prefer to use granulated sugar for color purposes as the color of the matcha powder will be more vibrant.

Plant-Based Yogurt: I like to use unsweetened almond milk yogurt. The texture is extra smooth with almond yogurt, but you can also use coconut yogurt. Choose the unsweetened and unflavored version to better control the sweetness level of the donuts.

Matcha Powder: Nowadays, there is a lot of matcha powder being sold everywhere. However, not all of them are good quality. Matcha is a powder made from grounded green leaves and the color and intensity of the flavor vary depending on the season the green leaves are harvested.

There are 2 main types of matcha powder- culinary and ceremonial matcha. Culinary matcha is a lower variety of matcha and is a bit more affordable. It can also taste a little bitter sometimes. Ceremonial matcha is the highest grade of matcha and what I prefer to use the most as it is bolder in flavor and the powder is smoother in texture. They are also used primarily in tea ceremonies.

If you are looking for matcha powder, be sure to check the ingredients list as matcha should be the only ingredient. I prefer to use Encha, Matchaful or Ippodo matcha the most.

Tips
Can I make these Vegan Matcha Mochi Donuts gluten-free?
You can try substituting the flour with gluten-free flour, but note that they would not rise as much as regular flour.

How do I store these mochi donuts?
These donuts are best eaten fresh. If you have any leftovers, store the donuts in an airtight container and place them in the fridge. Allow them to soften at room temperature when you want to eat them again.

If you like these Vegan Matcha Mochi Donuts, you might also like:
Vegan Pumpkin Donuts with Cinnamon Sugar
Vegan Double Chocolate Donuts
Vegan Vietnamese Hollow Donuts (Bánh Tiêu)

I cannot wait for you to make these Vegan Matcha Mochi Donuts! If you do, please tag me on Instagram @_withhelen or leave a comment below letting me know how you like them! Enjoy!

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